Bennett speaks by phone with Turkey’s Erdogan after Israeli couple freed

18 November 2021, 6:51 pm

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Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a media conference at the G20 summit in Rome, on October 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks by phone with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following the release from custody of an Israeli couple arrested for photographing the Turkish leader’s palace in Istanbul.

A statement from Bennett’s office says the premier thanked Erdogan for his “personal involvement” in returning the Oknins to Israel and “expressed his appreciation” for Turkish officials who helped resolve the matter.

“The prime minister said that this was a solution to a humanitarian matter and favorably noted the communication lines between the countries, which worked efficiently and discreetly during the crisis,” the statement adds.

It is the first phone call between the leaders since Bennett became prime minister in June.